Service Learning

The Free Clinic of Greater Cleveland & The Cleveland Care Alliance

In spring 2003, the CSU PT Program established a relationship with the People's Clinic - Circle Health Services' (former Free Clinic of Greater Cleveland) pro bono physical therapy practice. Five years later, in fall 2008, the Program developed a partnership with the Cleveland Care Alliance, implementing a physical therapy pro bono service for their patients. At both sites, student physical therapists participate in physical therapy service delivery throughout their first and second years of the professional education program.   They are supervised by community based physical therapists, who donate their time to provide PT services at the People's Clinic and Care Alliance, in addition to maintaining full time employment at various other facilities throughout the Cleveland area. 

Since its founding in 1970, The People's Clinic has grown from a small clinic based in a rented house to one occupying a 34,000 square foot building with 56 employees and over 350 active volunteers.  The People's Clinic services are categorized into 7 areas:  Medical (including physical therapy), HIV/Aids, Mental Health, Substance Abuse, Dental, Case Management, and Community Education services.  The clinic serves patients who do not have health insurance or are underinsured and all services are provided free of charge.  For more information about the Free Clinic, visit the web site at http://www.circlehealthservices.org/.   

Established in 1993, the Cleveland Care Alliance (formerly known as Cleveland Health Care for the Homeless) was founded as one of the nation’s first Health Care for the Homeless projects. It has since developed into a non-profit community health center, serving more than 3,500 patients each year. The mission of the center is to provide high quality care to those who need them the most, regardless of their ability to pay. The staff consists of both volunteers and a paid professional staff, who offer a number of different services including primary health care (including physical therapy), chemical dependency/behavioral health screenings and short-term counseling, HIV and AIDS counseling and treatment, immunizations, dental care, and a diabetes program, among others. More information about the Care Alliance can be found at www.carealliance.org/.

Preventative Care Center at Cuyahoga Community College

Since 2009, CSU PT students and faculty have collaborated with Cuyahoga Community College to provide physical therapy services to noninsured and underinsured adults at the Preventative Care Center.  Under the supervision of licensed physical therapists, CSU PT students work closely with Tri-C PTA students to provide needed PT services at very low cost.  In addition, the clinic is an interprofessional educational experience, as students work and learn alongside students from other disciplines including occupational therapy, medical assisting, and dietetic technology.  For more information on Cuyahoga Community College’s Preventative Care Center, please visit the website at: http://www.tri-c.edu/community/community-services/community-health/preventative-care-center/index.html.